Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition
Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition Avenches – Roman Museum – Permanent Exhibition
First Floor The Division of Time It is worth noting that two vertical bars were used to transcribe the letter E, which had been a frequently used sign in the former Celtic region. The name Nicomedes points to Greek origin and he was probably a slave. 7. Goblet bearing an engraved graffito in capital letters: SIIXTVS. According to Celtic tradition, the letter E is written with two vertical bars in this rather typical Latin name. 2nd century AD. 8. Mortar (mortarium) manufactured in Aventicum and bearing the stamp of the potter Ruscus. 2nd century AD. 9. Fragment of plate manufactured in Aventicum and bearing the stamp of the potter Cinced. It is worth noting that the name is written with a barred D as used in the very rare Celtic inscriptions. Second half of the 1st century AD. 10. Glass inkwell (1). 11. Ceramic inkwell. 12-16. Bronze seal-boxes (2). 17. Bronze ring with intaglio depicting a dolphin. 18. Facsimile wooden tablets, filled with wax. 19-21. Iron styli (writing implements). The Division of Time (Display cases 7-8) With the exception of a few minor changes, the Roman calendar introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, is still in use today and continues to regulate our lives. The Roman year began on January 1st and was divided into twelve months, the names and sequence of which have remained unchanged. Determining the day of a month was complicated because, unlike in present times, this was not achieved by counting from 1 to 31; instead, the Romans counted backwards from one of the three fixed points within a month: the calends (first day of the month), the nones (5th or 7th day depending on the month) (display case 8, no. 2) and the ides (13th or 15th day, again depending on the month). Every day had 24 hours. The day, from sunrise to sunset, comprised twelve hours, as did the night. Therefore, the length of an hour varied depending on the time of year and one’s geographical position. Only noon, the sixth hour (sexta hora), remained the same. In several modern languages directly derived from Latin like Italian or French, some weekdays still reflect the Roman influence such as the days named after the gods Mars (Tuesday - mardi) or Mercury (Wednesday - mercredi). In general, an hour was determined according to brightness. In order to measure time more exactly, three instruments were used: the sundial (display case 8, no. 1, drawing), which was either fixed or portable, the hourglass or the water clock (clepsydra). 1 2 25 First Floor 6 7 8
First Floor Weights and Measures The Zodiac is the celestial sphere divided into twelve equal sections. In linking astronomy with astrology, they are named after their nearest star constellations. The zodiac was imported from the Orient and became popular in Rome in the 1st century BC. From then on it soon spread across the whole of Italy and the provinces and it is often found on reliefs, mosaics (display case 7, no. 1) or jewellery. Display case 7 1. Fragment of mosaic representing the twelve signs of the zodiac. Only Pisces, Capricornus and Taurus are original, the sign of Gemini is reconstructed. Around AD 200, Derrière La Tour Palace. Loan from the Historical Museum in Bern. Display case 8 1. Inscription, in italics, engraved on a wall fresco (1): IIII nonas / Apriles / die / Martis « Fourth day before the April nones, the day of Mars », referring to Tuesday April 2nd AD.... Between AD 35 and 80. 2. Limestone sundial (2). Weights and Measures (Display case 9) The Roman measuring unit for length was the foot (pes); it varied over time and from one region to the next. At the beginning of our time it measured approximately 29.6 cm. A foot was subdivided into twelve ounces (unciae); three ounces were a palm (palmes), the equivalent of the breadth of the palm of a hand. Two and a half feet were a pace (gradus) and one thousand double-paces (passus) were a mile (mille passus) or the equivalent of approximately 1478.5 m. The distances between towns were calculated in miles and indicated on big stone pillars, the so-called milestones. The league (leuca), a Gaulish measure, never completely disappeared in this region. Short distances were measured using rulers (regula) and dividers (circinus) (display case 9, nos. 1-2). The latter were not only used to draw circles, but also to measure or transcribe distances. Together with the protractor, the plumb line (perpendiculum) (display case 9, nos. 3-4) was used to mark out vertical and horizontal surfaces. The basic measuring unit for weight was the pound (libra), which corresponds to 327.45 g (display case 9, no. 7); it was subdivided into twelve ounces (unciae) of 27.3 g each (display case 9, nos. 16-17). Sometimes it is possible to identify the value of a weight thanks to a letter or sign inscribed on it. “I” was the abbreviation for a pound (display case 9, no 7) and “S” (semis) for half a pound (display case 9, no. 5). Merchants used two types of scales. The most common was the steelyard (statera) with one balance pan (display case 9, nos. 10 and 12). It is still known today as ”Roman scales“. An object was weighed by moving the suspended steelyard weight along a balance arm with engraved markings (sketch 1). The counterweights 1 2 26 First Floor 7 8 9
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- Page 3 and 4: Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- Page 5 and 6: Ground Floor - Introduction Switzer
- Page 7 and 8: Ground Floor - Introduction Chronol
- Page 9 and 10: Ground Floor The Gallo-Roman Popula
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- Page 15 and 16: Ground Floor The Gallo-Roman Popula
- Page 17 and 18: Ground Floor The Inscriptions portr
- Page 19 and 20: Ground Floor The Inscriptions The S
- Page 21 and 22: Ground Floor Miscellaneous 31. Lime
- Page 23 and 24: First Floor The Indigenous Populati
- Page 25: First Floor Language and Writing No
- Page 29 and 30: First Floor Theatre, Games and Musi
- Page 31 and 32: First Floor Trade and Money The Mon
- Page 33 and 34: First Floor Trade and Money Money S
- Page 35 and 36: First Floor Rome and Aventicum The
- Page 37 and 38: First Floor Rome and Aventicum The
- Page 39 and 40: First Floor Religion Roman Religion
- Page 41 and 42: First Floor Religion Roman Religion
- Page 43 and 44: First Floor Religion The Local Gods
- Page 45 and 46: First Floor From Late Antiquity to
- Page 47 and 48: Second Floor Clothes and Jewellery
- Page 49 and 50: Second Floor Body and Health Care A
- Page 51 and 52: Second Floor Textile Production 3.
- Page 53 and 54: Second Floor Gardens There were var
- Page 55 and 56: Second Floor Protective Gods of the
- Page 57 and 58: Second Floor Kitchen and Tableware
- Page 59 and 60: Second Floor Food The Table of the
- Page 61: Second Floor Food Types of Tablewar
First Floor Weights and Measures<br />
The Zodiac is the celestial sphere divided into twelve equal sections. In linking<br />
astronomy with astrology, they are named after their nearest star constellations. The<br />
zodiac was imported from the Orient and became popular in Rome in the 1st century<br />
BC. From then on it soon spread across the whole of Italy and the provinces and it<br />
is often found on reliefs, mosaics (display case 7, no. 1) or jewellery.<br />
Display case 7<br />
1. Fragment of mosaic representing the twelve signs of the zodiac. Only Pisces,<br />
Capricornus and Taurus are original, the sign of Gemini is reconstructed.<br />
Around AD 200, Derrière La Tour Palace. Loan from the Historical <strong>Museum</strong> in Bern.<br />
Display case 8<br />
1. Inscription, in italics, engraved on a wall fresco (1):<br />
IIII nonas / Apriles / die / Martis<br />
« Fourth day before the April nones, the day of Mars », referring to Tuesday April 2nd AD....<br />
Between AD 35 and 80.<br />
2. Limestone sundial (2).<br />
Weights and Measures<br />
(Display case 9)<br />
The <strong>Roman</strong> measuring unit for length was the foot (pes); it varied over time<br />
and from one region to the next. At the beginning of our time it measured<br />
approximately 29.6 cm. A foot was subdivided into twelve ounces (unciae); three<br />
ounces were a palm (palmes), the equivalent of the breadth of the palm of a<br />
hand. Two and a half feet were a pace (gradus) and one thousand double-paces<br />
(passus) were a mile (mille passus) or the equivalent of approximately 1478.5 m.<br />
The distances between towns were calculated in miles and indicated on big stone<br />
pillars, the so-called milestones. The league (leuca), a Gaulish measure, never<br />
completely disappeared in this region.<br />
Short distances were measured using rulers (regula) and dividers (circinus)<br />
(display case 9, nos. 1-2). The latter were not only used to draw circles, but also<br />
to measure or transcribe distances. Together with the protractor, the plumb<br />
line (perpendiculum) (display case 9, nos. 3-4) was used to mark out vertical and<br />
horizontal surfaces.<br />
The basic measuring unit for weight was the pound (libra), which corresponds<br />
to 327.45 g (display case 9, no. 7); it was subdivided into twelve ounces (unciae) of<br />
27.3 g each (display case 9, nos. 16-17). Sometimes it is possible to identify the value<br />
of a weight thanks to a letter or sign inscribed on it. “I” was the abbreviation for a<br />
pound (display case 9, no 7) and “S” (semis) for half a pound (display case 9, no. 5).<br />
Merchants used two types of scales. The most common was the steelyard<br />
(statera) with one balance pan (display case 9, nos. 10 and 12). It is still known today<br />
as ”<strong>Roman</strong> scales“. An object was weighed by moving the suspended steelyard<br />
weight along a balance arm with engraved markings (sketch 1). The counterweights<br />
1<br />
2<br />
26<br />
First Floor<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9
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